Georgia Coastal Health District

National and international disasters, ranging from Ebola to wildfires to major earthquakes, have dominated the headlines in recent weeks. Plus, we are entering the most active month of hurricane season. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month in Georgia – a great time to make sure you and your loved ones are disaster-ready. This year’s theme is “Be Disaster Aware; Take Action to Prepare.”

“Knowing the appropriate way to prepare for and respond to disaster can help you survive the emergency and recover faster, said Lisa Janak Newman, public information officer with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA). “It can also help reduce the fear and anxiety that accompany disasters.”

It’s easy to prepare for a disaster, whether it’s a hurricane or snow and ice. Stay informed by having a way to receive weather alerts, build a Ready kit of emergency supplies, and make a family communications plan using the resources on Ready Georgia.

“Having an extra supply of batteries, water, ready-to-eat food and cash in small denominations are some of the most essential items to start with,” said Bruce Jeffries, deputy director of Health Protection at the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). “Make considerations for the specific, individual needs of you and your family before the onset of a disaster.”

Article by Georgia Department of Public Health Risk Communicator, Eric Jens.

That’s right. The need for immunizations doesn’t end with childhood. Each year, thousands of adults in the U. S. suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized, or even die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines, including influenza, whooping cough, certain bacterial infections, hepatitis A and B, shingles, and even some cancers such as cervical cancer and liver cancer. Talk to your doctor today to find out which vaccines are recommended for you.

Most people don’t realize that adults need immunizations, too. While many recognize that a flu vaccine is recommended every year, few adults are aware of the need for other vaccines to help protect their health.
Protection from some childhood immunizations wears off over time, leaving you vulnerable to disease. For example, there has been a rise in cases of whooping cough in the last few years, with over 48,000 cases being reported in 2012. We have learned that the protection from DTaP whooping cough vaccine given to children doesn’t last into adulthood, so all adults are now recommended to get one dose of Tdap whooping cough vaccine if they did not receive it as an adolescent.
Adults may be recommended for certain vaccines due to their age, job, hobbies, travel, or health condition. Other vaccines may be recommended if they didn’t get certain vaccines as children.
Check your immunization records to be sure you got the, measles-mumps-rubella, varicella “chickenpox” and HPV vaccines.
Some adults, including older adults and those who have chronic health conditions, may be at higher risk for serious complications from some vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, because older age increases the chance of getting shingles, CDC recommends that adults get the shingles vaccine once they turn 60 years old.
People with diabetes, heart disease, and COPD or asthma, even if well managed, are more likely than those without these conditions to have complications from the flu. To prevent possible complications like pneumonia, people with these chronic conditions should get a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in addition to a yearly flu vaccine.
But those aren’t the only reasons to stay up-to-date on vaccinations.
Adult immunization is necessary because it not only protects the person receiving the vaccine, but also helps prevent the spread of certain diseases to loved ones and those in the community who are most vulnerable to disease (like those with weakened immune systems and infants).
They don’t have a choice, but you do.
To learn about adult vaccination and the Affordable Care Act, visit: www.health care.gov/what-are-my-preventive-care-benefits/.
Getting vaccinated is an important step we can take to protect ourselves and loved ones from vaccine-preventable diseases. Yet too many adults–perhaps even you–are not up to date. Talk with your doctor to find out which vaccines are right for you.
For more information on vaccines or to take an adult vaccine quiz to find out which vaccines you might need, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/index.html.

Rabies is a potentially fatal disease that is usually transmitted by the bite of an animal that is infected. So how can you protect yourself, your family, and your pets against rabies?

A lot of animals that can be found in Georgia such as raccoons, foxes, and bats, are carriers of rabies. That’s why it is so important to follow these tips:
• Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines by four months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later, and another one every one to three years as prescribed by your veterinarian.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health.* Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.
If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact your local animal control agency and county Environmental Health Division.
Want to know more about rabies? Check out the CDC website.
*By Georgia Law, most native species of wildlife cannot be held without permits or licenses. Find out more at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division website.